Collapsible floral rack



United States Patent 2,989,275 Patented June 20, 196} 2,989,275 COLLAPSIBLE FLORAL RACK John Freeman Hart, In, 765 Cherry, Macon, Ga.

' Filed July 15, 1958, Ser. No. 748,664

1 Claim. (Cl. 24827.8)

This invention relates to the handling, transportation and display of commodities of various kinds including those used for decorating and otherwise rendering more attractive including with flowers, and to equipment on which such commodities may be supported and displayed.

The invention relates particularly to stands which can be readily set up or installed for supporting commodities of different kinds on certain occasions such as at weddings, funerals or the like and especially for supporting flowers and floral pieces.

Racks of this nature have been made of spaced uprights and cross members all fastened together in a substantially flat rectangular frame with article supporting prongs on the front face of the same and with the rack adapted to be placed in substantially upright position against an object or the rack provided with a support attached to the same at the rear. Racks of this kind have been utilized to support flowers on only one side, namely, the front of the same so that with an unfinished or rear side they have not been suitable for use in exposed areas but only at the side thereof and prior racks have been constructed so that they could easily tip or be upset.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rack capable of supporting commodities of various kinds on opposite sides of the same in central or other areas as well as a rack of relatively simple and inexpensive construction which can be readily collapsed for storage, shipment, or the like and easily set up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack for supporting flowers or other objects on opposite faces and having a base which can be made relatively rigid and stable but which readily can be separated for folding the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack of a pair of planar frames pivoted together at one end and with a collapsible frame for fastening the other ends in fixed spaced relation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary enlarged perspective showing the details of the integral hooks or supports;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary enlarged plan view of one of the hinges of interfitting coils;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary enlarged perspective of the lock or connection between the separable parts of the base, such lock being in open position; and

FIG. 5, a side elevation of the lock or connection in closed position.

Briefly stated, the stand of the present invention comprises a pair of rectangular frames or racks pivotally connected at their top by interfitting coils about a rod or pivot member and with a base strip for securing such frames or racks in fixed relation in the form of an isosceles triangle. A bar is attached along the lower portion of each of the racks and to one end of each of such bars is pivoted one end of a connecting bar, the other end of which is constructed to be locked on the lower portion of the oppositely disposed bar to form a solid rigid base which may be collapsed when desired. A series of books or holders are disposed on the exposed side of each rack for the support of articles displayed.

each having a pair of longitudinal rods forming supports 10 adapted to be disposed in substantially upright position. The rods 10 are somewhat larger in diameter than a series of parallel members 11 of wire or red stock welded or otherwise attached to a series of parallel cross members '12. The longitudinal rods 10 and the parallel members 11 of one frame or rack are connected at their lower extremities by a relatively thin fiat base strip 13 and the supports 10 and parallel members -11 of the other frames or rack are connected at their lower extremities to a base strip 14.

A plurality of hooks or supports 15 are provided on the exposed face of each of the frames and each hook is composed of spaced mounting coils :16 encircling a cross member 12 and with a bight 17 extending around a longitudinal support 10 and connecting the coils 16.

The frames or racks are pivotally connected at their upper ends by means of interfitting coils 18 and 19 disposed about the shaft 20 so that the racks may hinge about such shaft from substantially parallel relation to an angular relation with the racks providing mutual support one for the other.

In order to maintain the frames or racks in their angular position, a pair of cross has 21 are provided with one end of each attached to the strip 13 of the opposite frame or rack by pivots 22. In order to make the connection detachable the opposite end of the cross bars 21 are extended through an opening 23 in an upturned portion 24 of the base strip 14. A notch 25 is provided in one side near the end of such cross bars and with such notch being adapted to receive the upturned portion 24. The cross bar 21 is fastened in fixed position by a latch member 26 mounted on an upstanding member 24 by a pivot 27. The latch member 26 is adapted to have a shoulder 28 which pivots behind the cross bar 21 and secures the same against retraction.

A handle 29 is provided which may be welded or otherwise attached to the shaft 19 and is utilized in moving the stand from one position to another.

In the operation of the device, floral wreaths, sprays or other articles to be placed on display may be suspended from or supported by the hooks 15 on each of the racks and such racks may be disposed in angular relation and fixed in the open position by cross bars 21. If it is desired to move the stand, the cross bars 21 may be folded and the stand closed to thus occupy a minimum of space and then moved to its new location and again set up and locked in its open position without the necessity of removing the articles on display.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A rack comprising ,a pair of substantially identical frames of longitudinal and transverse rods, a rigid rod member, said frames having interfitting coils at their upper end portions engaging said rod member and permitting swingable movement of said frames relative to said rod member, clips mounted on said frames and having article supporting portions extending outwardly therefrom, a flat base strip rigidly connected to the other end of each of said frames, a fiat connecting bar having one end pivoted to an end of each of said base strips and a free end, said base strips each having locking means for receiving the free end of one of said connecting bars when such free end is moved laterally into engagement therewith, said base strips being angularly disposed to said frames whereby when said base strips are interlocked with said cross bars said base strips and said cross bars extend flatwise in substantially the same plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS White Nov. 6, 1888 Powell Dec. 25, 1906 Heinz Dec. 13, 1927 Bruning July 25, 1933 Haas May 14, 1940 Schafiner May 3, 1955 

